Admission Procedure

You can apply for admission to the Doctoral Programme both for a start in the winter semester and the summer semester of each academic year. The deadline for a winter semester start is 15 June, that for the summer semester 15 January of each year.

Applicants are expected to hold an above-average degree (Diploma, MA) in humanities or social science or an equivalent degree from abroad. However, due to its interdisciplinary character, the School also welcomes well-qualified applicants from other fields.

Applicants to the Graduate School should have a good command of either German or English at the time of admission. International doctoral candidates with no German are encouraged to learn the language as it is the main medium of communication at the university and in daily life. The BGHS will pay for two language courses so that international candidates can acquire the Certificate of German as a Foreign Language at the end of their first year.

All applications are to be sent online to the School's website.

Please submit the following documents:

• Short cover letter (not more than 400 words)
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Copies of certificates of academic degrees
• Research proposal of about 4,000 words
• Reference from your prospective supervisor at the BGHS
• Names and addresses of two academic referees (names, positions, mail addresses)

To find suitable supervisors, please visit our website for a brief introduction to all professors associated with the BGHS and their research interests. The respective professor should be contacted directly by the candidate.

Applications for Scholarships

Applications for full-time scholarships for prospective doctoral or postdoctoral candidates are processed in a separate selection procedure. Scholarships are usually advertised in late autumn or, if necessary, also in spring. For more details and current deadlines please visit the BGHS website.

Applications for short-term scholarships from international candidates can be sent to the BGHS at all times.

For a list of FAQs relating to the School's application process please go to our website or contact the BGHS office directly.